Guide device



S. FINDLATER GUIDE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 29, 1934 l l [nvm/dor.'

Aug. 4, 19316. s. FINDLATER 2,050,048

GUIDE DEVI CE Filed Dec. 29. 1934 2 Sheens--Sheerl 2 [nuev/dor: 5TH/Meow F/'NDLHTE Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE z,050,04s l GUIDE DEVICEl New Jersey appiieeten-neeemberzo, 1934, serial N0. '159,805 lclaims. (ci. so-si) This invention relates to a novel guide device .which is particularly adapted for guiding a workpiece into or out of a metal-working mill, although not limited thereto.

vIn rolling mill practice it is extremely important that the proper entry and egress of the workpiece into and out of the pass be assured; otherwise serious complications result. The workpiece often whips to such an extent as to have its quality impaired. This is particularly true in mills wherein rotation is imparted to the `worvlrv piece.

The propel' guidance of the work-piece into and out of metal-working mills must therefore be l carefully regulated, and Anecessitates numerous changes in the guide devices employed. These changes are not required because of wearalone,

but more frequently due to the fact that the mill must be employed to process a work-piece of .a 'different size, or cross-section. Most metal-workingmills are capable of processing a range of sizes in work-piece cross-section, but the guide devices 'of the prior art-are not so flexible in function,

and must befrequently changed. Such changes often require several hours time which occasions a high cost ofproduction, and-often an entire` loss of profit, particularly ifa small order being processed.

It is one er the objects of the present Invention.

to provide a novel guide device, which lfunctions throughout a range of variations in work-piece cross-section, and one which at the same ltime may beeasilyand cheaplyinstalledonexisting types of metal-working mills.

Another object is the provision of a novel guide device which may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes, or changes in work-piece crosssection in a. minimum of time.

'Ihe vforegoing and further objects will be ap- 40 parent after referring to the drawings, vin which:

Figure 1 is a plan of the device of the invention in use on a conventional type of seamless pipe or tube mill. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged, pian of the device. Figure 3 .is an enlarged sectional view on the line III-III of FigureZ.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line IV--IV of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letters A designate a pair of suitably actuated metal workingV rolls such as are commonly used in the manufacture of seamless pipes and tubes. A mandrel is frequently disposed between the metal-working rolls A for internally supporting the work-piece being processed. In thepresent instance, this mandrel is shown as a piercing plug B which is carried on the end of a suitably supported bar C, and is used to pierce a solid workpiece, as at W, to form a tubular shell. It is well known to those skilled in the art that consider- 5 able whipping of the work-piece takes place during this processing operation, and particularly after it has assumed a tubular form and is emerging from the mili.

. The numeral 2 designates either an inlet and/or 10 outlet trough for a metal-working mili which is adapted to process a work-piece of substantially cylindrical cross-section. However.. it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatV the device ef the Invention 1s intended te be used l on any metal-working mill, regardless of the cross-section for which it is made. or adjusted.

A bed 3 is disposed on the floor of the mill im- A mediately adjacentand in alinement with the trough 2 and carries a plurality of pairs of alined 'zo bearings l. v

' A rotatable shaft 5 is journaled in each pair of aiined bearings 4 with its axis below, and at substantial right-angles to, the line of pass of the metal-working mill (not shown) and to the axis of the trough 2. A cylinder i is secured to each of the shafts 5, and are eachprovided with a plurality of peripheral recesses 1, l, l, II, I2,

Il and I4, which are of dillerent,cross-section, and arranged to extend at right angles to its .o axis. 'lhat is to say, in the present instance the recesses 1, 8, 9, I0, I2, I3 and Il are shown as being substantially U'shaped and of varying depth and width.

One'end of each of the shafts 5 is provided with 35 an .individual housing I5, in each of which there is disposeda'worm gear Ii thatissecuredto the former. A common shaftll is extended through and journaled in all of the housings I5 and carries a series of worms I8, one of which 4o isadapted tomeshwitheachofthewormgears II. The shaft I1 may be rotated in any suitable manner to aline the various recesses 1, I, l, Il. I2, I3 and I4 ofthe rotatable cylinders 6 immediately below the horizontal center line of the 45 'Ihis permits the emcient guidance of a work-piece emerging from the metal-working mill (not shown) on the other side of the trough 2, the recesses 1, 8, 9, Il, I2, Il and I4 serving to accommodate arather wide range in 50 ing kick-oir arms 26.

y I4 of the rolls 6, as indicated at 2l in Figure 3,

so as to assist in the guidance oi the work-piece. A shaft 24 is extended along the bed 3 on its side opposite the shaft I9, and Journaled in suitable bearings 25. This shaft 24 carries a plurality of laterally extending kick-off arms 26,

which are alternately disposed with respect to the I cylinders 6. I

By suitable rotation of the shaft I'I the cylinders 6 are moved to aline their respective recesses 1, 8, 9, III, I2, I3 and I4. The shaft I9 is partially rotated to bring the laterally extending arms 2| into operative position, thus enabling the semi-cylindrical sleeves 22 to augment the function of the cylinders G. After the laterally extending arms 2l are raised the shaft 24 is partially rotated to raise the laterally extend- The `work-piece is thus raised by thekickoil' arms 26 and permitted to roll transversely of the trough 2, preparatory to processing another work-piece.

Due to the ability of the mill operator to rapidly operate the various elements in the foregoing manner, changes to accommodate a different work-piece cross-section can be made practically instantaneously.

The cylinders 6 are provided at suitable points with indiciaX in order to assure the positioning of the proper recesses.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as deiined by the following claims.

at least one rotatable element having its axis at 10 substantial right-angles with respect to the line of pass oi said-mill, said rotatable element having a plurality of recesses of varying cross-section in its periphery and in substantial parallelism with said line of pass, and a separately 15 movable cover for cooperating with said rotatable element, said movable cover being shaped to conform substantially to the cross-section of a workpiece to be rolled.

3. A guide for metal rolling mills comprising 20 a plurality of spaced rotatable elements, each having its axis at substantial right-angles with respect to the line of pass of said mill, each of said rotatable elements having a plurality of recesses cf varying cross-section in its periphery, said plurality of rotatable elements being connected for rotation in unison.

4. A guide for metal working mills comprising a. plurality of rotatable elements,'each having its axis at substantial right-angles with respec to the line of pass of said mill, each of said rotatable elements having a plurality of recesses of varying cross-section inits periphery', means for enabling the rotation of said elements in unison, u

and a movable cover for the periphery of each of said elements, each of said movable covers being constructed and arranged to cooperate with said recesses in such manner as to conform substantially to the cross-section of a work-piece being processed by said metal working mill.

STEVENSON FINDLATER. 

